ما المَجدُ إِلّا سَماءٌ أَنتَ كَوكَبُها

ما المَجدُ إِلّا سَماءٌ أَنتَ كَوكَبُها

وَالجودُ إِلّا غَمامٌ أَنتَ سَلسُلُهُ

وَالجودُ إِلّا غَمامٌ أَنتَ سَلسُلُهُ

Glory is nothing but a sky, and you are its star.

Glory is but a sky, and you its brightest star,

And generosity is but a cloud, and you are its sweet water.

Generosity a cloud, and you its pouring rain.

فَكُلُّ سابِقِ قَومٍ أَنتَ سابِقُهُ

فَكُلُّ سابِقِ قَومٍ أَنتَ سابِقُهُ

وَكُلُّ فاضِلِ حِزبٍ أَنتَ تَفضُلُهُ

وَكُلُّ فاضِلِ حِزبٍ أَنتَ تَفضُلُهُ

So every man foremost among his people—you outstrip him.

Every chief of a people finds in you his better,

And every eminent man within a group—you surpass him.

And every party’s best, you outdo and maintain.

بِالعَقدِ تُحكِمُهُ وَالأَمرُ تُبرِمُهُ

بِالعَقدِ تُحكِمُهُ وَالأَمرُ تُبرِمُهُ

وَالعِرضُ تَمنَعُهُ وَالمالُ تَبذُلُهُ

وَالعِرضُ تَمنَعُهُ وَالمالُ تَبذُلُهُ

By binding, you make it firm; and the matter, you settle it decisively.

You give sanction with your necklace, and resolve affairs,

And honor you defend, and wealth you freely give.

Protect men’s honor, and freely spend your wealth.